A simple story with a powerful message at Players' Ring

Wednesday

Nov 14, 2012 at 3:15 AMNov 15, 2012 at 1:31 PM

PORTSMOUTH — Prepare to be moved as director Todd Hunter brings Diana Son's powerful Stop Kiss back to The Players' Ring stage.

The story of Stop Kiss is deceptively simple: two young women in New York meet, talk about their boyfriends, feel a growing, unspoken attraction for each other, and finally kiss. And that one innocent kiss sets off a savage gay bashing. But even as Stop Kiss confronts the reality of physical violence, Diana Son's imaginative, moving, and surprising comedy brings audiences – and her principal characters – to unexpected places.

Callie is holding down a job as a radio traffic reporter when she meets Sara, a Midwesterner who, against her parents' wishes, has moved to the city to teach third-grade students in the Bronx. As they get to know each other, their shared experiences and sense of humor create a strong bond. The tragic consequences of their kiss – the center of this powerful drama – serve as both an indictment of hatred and a moving study of the perils inherent in living life fully.

November 9 – November 25Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm.7pm Sundays November 11 and 18. 2pm Sunday November 25.

Call 603-436-8123 to make reservations or purchase tickets online at www.playersring.org.

This will be the first Rolling Die Productions piece since 2009, although director Todd Hunter has directed shows at the request of other production companies (One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and Hedwig And The Angry Inch). “When I directed Stop Kiss in 2004, I felt that the social mores that it portrayed - the gay bashing and the public reaction following it - were becoming a bit outdated. It felt, at the time, that we were moving past the social intolerance, the bigotry, that we were moving towards stronger equality for all, regardless of orientation. I'll be the first to admit that I was terribly naive, because while strides toward equality have made leaps forward since, the backlash has been even stronger and, in many ways, threatens equality even greater,” explains Hunter, when asked why he chose Stop Kiss for Rolling Die's return to stage. “Callie and Sara are two human beings. Two women. Two daughters that are senselessly attacked due to bigotry. In the current climate where equality has been so politicized, Stop Kiss is a reminder that there are human beings at the core of this.”

The story of Calie and Sarah will be brought to life by two talented Seacoast actresses that hope audiences are as moved by the story as they were. “I believe the message of Stop Kiss is important. I love that this show depicts a love story that anyone - gay or straight - can engage with and relate to, but also makes clear the violence that gay couples are still at risk of in our society. There are scenes in this show that are very hard to watch - and perform in, of course - because of their brutality. But that brutality isn't a fiction - which is why it's important to tell the story,” explains Jacquelyn Benson, who will be playing Sarah.

Callie will be brought to life by Rebecca Rudolf. “After reading the script through a couple times, I realized what an important story this is, especially now when homosexuality, incredibly, remains taboo. I think above all, this show portrays humanity. It is my hope that this show will open the eyes and minds of its audience members; to bring violent issues like the one in this play to the forefront of their minds. A lot of the time, we know that things like this happen, but it fades into the background of our lives. We forget the horror of it because we are so removed from it... I hope to generate empathy for the victims of hate crimes”, said Rudolf.

Stop Kiss is an Obie Award winner, A GLAAD Best Production winner, and included in Best plays of 1999 for The New York Times, New York Magazine, Newsday, and New York Daily News.

The dedication and passion that the team brings to the script will make for a night of theater that is not to be missed.